Monday, July 13, 2009

The Orthodox Church is evangelical, but not Protestant. It is orthodox, but not Jewish. It is catholic, but not Roman. It isn't non-denominational - it is pre-denominational. It has believed, taught, preserved, defended and died for the Faith of the Apostles since the Day of Pentecost 2000 years ago.

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!

TheMorningOffering Monday, July 13 / June 30 (Church Calendar)Synaxis of the 12 Apostles

Saints of the Day:

June 30 / July 13. Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious and All-Praised Twelve Apostles: Peter, Andrew, James and John the sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Jude the brother of James, Simon Zelotes, and Matthias . St. Sophronius, Bishop of Irkutsk. New-Martyr Michael of Athens. St. Andrew, prince of Bogoliubsk. (Greek Calendar: Martyr Meleton. Martyr Peter of Synope.) Repose of Bishop Nestor of San Francisco and Alaska (1882).

In St. Petersburg, as often as you leave your own apartments, so often you will witness things which will lead you away from the path of piety. Fear vile company. Remember God. Pray before going to bed and in the morning. Eat with blessing and thanksgiving, do not imitate those who gulp like beasts. Seek no honors, but if they are bestowed upon you in spite of yourself, accept and do not rejoice in them. . . . Be simple in honors, only do what your sense of honor and the oath prescribe. Be kindly to all, but also have a kind heart, for otherwise kindness is nothing but flattery and craftiness. Forgive offenses. Keep the memory of death in your mind. Close your ears to rumors, and turn your eyes from the well-known as though from monsters. Speak about no one unless it is really necessary. Remember that we shall leave everything here behind and shall go naked into the other world.

St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

"Letter to a young nobleman who lived in the capital"

Scripture Readings for the Day:

Romans 16:17-24

Avoid Divisive Persons

17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Greetings from Paul's Friends

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Matthew 13:10-23

The Purpose of Parables

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

' Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,And seeing you will see and notperceive;15For the hearts of this people have grown dull.Their earsare hard of hearing,And their eyes they haveclosed,Lest they should see withtheireyes and hear withtheirears,Lest they should understand withtheirhearts and turn,So that Ishouldheal them.'

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."